HAMILTON player-boss Alex Neil says he would happily sacrifice tonight’s League Cup clash with Motherwell if it would guarantee Accies victory in Saturday’s Premiership derby.

The top flight new boys face their Lanarkshire rivals at home before going to Fir Park at the weekend looking to stretch their six-game unbeaten league run.

Accies have made a great start to life in the Premiership, just two points behind joint leaders Dundee United and Inverness.

Neil is desperate to see his team’s impressive run continue and has not ruled out Accies making a bid for the League Cup.

But the 33-year-old admits he is worried that fighting on multiple fronts will take its toll on his squad. Now he has warned he may risk resting some of his senior figures tonight as he keeps his powder dry ahead of the league showdown with Well.

Neil said: “With Hibs, Hearts and Rangers in transition, there’s a chance for smaller clubs to have a good cup run.

“There is no reason why we can’t think of doing the same as Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Aberdeen, who have all won the League Cup recently.

“But I don’t want us to take our eye off the ball in the league. That is our bread and butter.

“We’d like a good cup run too, but we’ve a small squad and it might be difficult.

“Would I name a weakened side for the cup tie? Well, my team will be determined by who is fit and who is not – but I would have no problem putting some young boys in for the cup match.

“If I could choose to win one of the derbies, I would take the league game, without question.”

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall, however, said he’d swap another year of league success for a trophy.

McCall led Well to the Scottish Cup Final in his first season but has had no joy in knockout football since, despite guiding the club to three top three finishes.

He said: “We must pick up in the league as we’d like to be in the top six.

“But a cup run, giving the fans a trip to Hampden if possible, is high on our agenda.